Should I push for an appointment with my Consultant.

[screamqueenrollo]

God I feel like a broken record about this.

I was referred 6 months ago, have had day 3 and 21 bloods, ultrasound and HSG. I haven't been given any results. I haven't met or spoken to my Consultant once.

Today I phoned my Consultant's secretary to chase them up, they've been on leave for a fortnight and my file was 'in the trolley' waiting to be looked at. I've been told (by the secretary) that he's not happy with my results as they 'weren't good' and a letter is on it's way to tell me I've been referred for a lap and dye.

I'm not happy about this. I feel like I need him to properly talk through the results of the tests i've already had done and to explain to me properly why he thinks the lap and dye is necessary.
At the moment I'm so tired of the way the Consultant has dealt with me, and so tired of the mess that secondary infertility is making of my life that I don't think I can face another test. I'm ready to pack it all in and resign myself to the fact that I'm never going to hve another child.

I've asked twice now if someone can talk through my results and been fobbed off both times.
Would I be within my rights to insist on a consultation to talk through the findings of the tests already done (and maybe this will help me make a decision about the lap and dye and whether to keep going) and if so can anyone give me any hints on how I do this?

Sorry you're having such a rough time.

From what you've said, I think you ought to insist that your consultant at least speaks to you on the phone. You have no idea at all of what might be wrong, so I expect you're imagining all sorts. Like you say, he needs to explain what has shown up on the tests you've had so far and why a lap and dye is the next step, otherwise how can you make the decision to consent to surgery? Does he hold a clinic? Perhaps you could be given an appointment at that.

I have recently had investigations too and my consultant was fairly helpful - I saw her face to face in the clinic and she was able to explain everything to me there and then.

I think it's shocking that you haven't even been talked through your results after such a long time.

Best of luck.

I think it's very poor that no one has talked through your results with you. You shouldn't be getting news indicating that there was something up with one of the tests from a secretary! You should be given the results by a medical professional who can explain the implications and discuss options with you. I think you need to insist. And if that doesn't work, ask your GP to be referred elsewhere.

Yes insist on seeing the consultant or they could call you

oh FFS

he has no appt free until middle of Jan. Actually it's a clinic and she can't guarantee who I will see. The lap and dye would be due end of Dec. If i put off having it until I speak to the Cons i'm messing with waiting times and won't get it until March/April instead. I feel bullied.

The letter that is coming in the post has details of all my test results. I can take it to my GP for him to talk through it if there is anything I don't understand. then if i still want an appt i can phone back and play the appointment lottery again.

I can't be arsed with this anymore. Stress is bad when TTC, and this whole thing is the biggest contributor to my stress levels.

Got an appt with my GP tomorrow for something else (three days of excruciating sinus pain) so going to ask for counselling referral.

and also - given how crap my consultant/the dept seem to be at communicating I have no confidence in him and don't want to be under his care any more.
Now do i ask my GP to refer me elsewhere or just give up?

I agree - take the appointments while you consider your options. If you have lost confidence in your consultant I think the best idea is to ask to be referred elsewhere but in the meantime having your GP talk through your results might help.

If you want to post your results here, some of us might be able to provide some non-expert advice. Most of us who have been trying a while have had the same tests.

Hi - I never saw the same registrar once when going through tests and 3 months was the usual wait between appointments. I never felt a priority and it took 9 months from seeing someone the first time to having all tests done.

You could ask the secretary to put you on the cancellation list in case any appointments come free? It is good you have had bloods and a HSG already. If so your Gp should be able to log on and find out your blood results at least when you see him - I got mine printed out from Gp before I saw my consultant (actually a registrar or trainee gp rather than consultant!!) each time. I had to have bloods done 3 times, my dh had a SA (has your partner already had this, if not your Gp can order it for you).

My only note of caution, from my experience is that because I had had some medication/counselling when I got to the stage of IVF (which is what we needed due to severe male infertility) it was initially turned down due to mental health reasons and I needed proof of a period of stability before could start it, an assessment by IVF team's counsellor (more delay) etc. Not saying you should not have counselling by any means - your health comes first, but if you do need assisted fertility your Gp and yourself will have to declare (Gp will be contacted by IVF people) that.

It may be a lap and dye can identify the problem if there is one and solve it so you don't need treatment so your consultant may be trying to get you treated ASAP rather than delay things by seeing you, then referring you onto another waiting list?

All the best.

PS - you could ask to be referred elsewhere, however you will have the initial NHS standard waiting lists, may well have to be on waiting list for a lap and dye anyway and there is no proof that any other NHS hospital unit is better than this one. My NHS experience was that of waiting etc. Other option is to ask Gp for a private referral - initial consultation is usually about £150, tests are more and procedures such as lap and dye etc with any corrective treatments can be about £2000. Expensive, but shorter wait times (usually 4-8 weeks for initial appointment) - which is reality.

Thank you for the replies, they really do help.

DH has been tested and all is well with him.

The IVF is a moot point, as I already have a child and so my PCT rules state that I don't qualify for NHS funded IVF and we can't afford to go private.

I guess I just have to wait for my test results to come and see whether they can help me to make a decision.

I had my blood tests done in July. For some reason the results have not been put on the system as my Practice Nurse and my GP both looked on separate occasions to see if they were there and they weren't.

This week has made me realise though that I'm not sure I'm emotionally strong enough to do this any more.